What happened
On February 1, 2007, an EMB-202, registration PT-UNQ, was performing aerial spraying operations over a soybean plantation at Fazenda Cima in Sapezal, Mato Grosso. During a low-level spray pass, the aircraft's landing gear made contact with the soybean crop. This contact caused an immediate deceleration of the aircraft.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot commanded the immediate jettisoning of the chemical load from the hopper. However, the aircraft continued to lose airspeed and was unable to regain sufficient altitude. Consequently, the pilot executed a forced landing. The aircraft sustained severe damage to the wings, fuselage, engine, and propeller, though the pilot emerged from the accident uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the flight parameters and the aerodynamic impact of the spraying equipment. The investigation established that the pilot was qualified and experienced for this type of operation, and the aircraft was in a valid state of airworthiness.
Investigators analyzed the aerodynamic drag caused by the dispersal equipment (pumps and spray bars), noting that such configurations significantly increase drag and reduce the aircraft's rate of climb compared to a clean configuration. The analysis also considered the flight altitude, noting that while the ideal application height for this aircraft type is approximately 5.8 meters, the pilot had been flying at a much lower altitude, likely to compensate for wind conditions. The investigation concluded that the pilot's decision to fly at an altitude of less than 2 meters significantly reduced the margin for error.
Findings
- The pilot failed to maintain an adequate safety altitude during the application passes.
- The pilot's judgment regarding the necessary flight height for the specific wind conditions was inadequate.
- The contact of the landing gear with the soybean crop caused a loss of airspeed that the aircraft could not recover from, even after jettisoning the hopper load.
- The increased aerodynamic drag from the spraying equipment contributed to the inability to regain altitude after the initial deceleration.